Press Releases

Jackson County Man pleas to 10 year sentence

Jackson County Man pleads guilty to felony charges

June 17, 2015:Eric Kyle Nicholson, 42, of Swifton, Arkansas appeared before Jackson County Circuit Judge, Harold S. Erwin, and pled to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and a 60 month Suspended Imposition of Sentence for Terroristic Threatening a class D felony and Attempted Domestic Battery in the First Degree a class C felony.

These charges stem from an October 20, 2014 investigation when Nicole Cleveland, of Swifton reported to deputies that she was taken to a remote part of Jackson County where ERIC KYLE NICHOLSON told her that he was going to kill her. Nicholson zip tied her hands behind her back, poured gasoline on her, and then started putting out lit cigarettes on her shoulder.

On Friday, April 10, 2015, investigators with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office obtained and executed a search warrant at 1407 Dill Street in Newport, Ar. Investigators received information on stolen property being at the residence. Upon the execution of the search warrant Jeremy Curtis Cooper and John Michael Sullins were taken into custody. Investigators located numerous items of stolen goods controlled substances, and drug paraphernalia. Jeremy Curtis Cooper is being charged with Theft by Receiving a Class “D” Felony and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with intent to use a Class” “D Felony. John Michael Sullins is being charged with Theft by Receiving a Class “D” Felony; Possession of a Controlled Substance a Class “A” Misdemeanor; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with intent to use and Class “A” misdemeanor. Cooper and Sullins will appear in front of the Honorable Barbara A. Griffin, Newport District Judge on Monday, April 13, 2015.

1967 Cold Case murder arrest made

On Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at approximately 10:30 A.M. James Leon Clay, age 67 of Georgetown, Delaware was taken into custody by officials with the Georgetown, Delaware Police Department on a Warrant from the Jackson County Circuit Court for Kidnaping and Murder in the First Degree.

The arrest was the resulted of an investigation of a 1967 cold case, which involved the discovery of human remains in rural Jackson County on August 27, 1967 that were identified as Mr. James Ricks, age 27 of North Little Rock.

The investigation, which began on January 8, 2015 by Sheriff David Lucas when he received information from Special Agent Bradley Harvey of the FBI, Little Rock Field Office. Special Agent Harvey told Sheriff Lucas that he had possible information in reference to the discovery of human remains in Jackson County on August 27, 1967.

Based on the investigation, the case was presented to Third Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney, Mr. Henry Boyce, and an Affidavit of Probable cause for arrest was signed by the Jackson County Circuit Judge, Harold S. Erwin.

James Leon Clay is currently being held in the Sussex County Correctional Institution in Georgetown, Delaware without bond. His is expected to appear before a magistrate for an extradition hearing this week,

Sheriff Lucas stated; “I am very pleased with the results of this investigation, which was a collaborative effort between the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigations Little Rock, Ar. and Baltimore, Maryland Field Offices, the Georgetown, Delaware Police Department and the Third Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. It has allowed us to give the family of Mr. Ricks some closure after 47 years.

Train Accident

On Monday, March 2, 2015, at approximately 3:22 A.M. Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an accident involving a southbound Amtrak train and a 2015 Ford Mustang. A preliminary investigation showed that the driver of the mustang, Mr. Pradeep Burugu, of Houston, Texas, attempted to cross the Union Pacific Railroad Crossing at Jackson County Road 55, when the Ford Mustang became stuck on the tracks in front of the oncoming train. Mr. Burugu was removed from his vehicle prior to impact. There were no injuries to the passengers on the eight (8) car Amtrak train and minimal damage to the train. The investigation into this accident is ongoing by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

Newport man sentenced to serve 60 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections

Keith Allen Thompson, 40, appeared before Judge Harold Erwin in Jackson County Circuit Court Wednesday, Aug. 8, where he pled on charges of Theft of Property, Criminal Trespass, and Criminal Mischief First Degree.

Charges were filed against Thompson after a report was filed with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office in January that a crane had been vandalized with parts and batteries stolen.

Sheriff's Office Conducts Operation Safe Playground

In a continuing effort to keep the children and citizens of Jackson County safe, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office conducted Operation Safe Playground on Wednesday, July 24th and Thursday, July 25th..

During Operation Safe Playground, Officers of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office along with the United States Marshal’s Office, Newport, Diaz, and Swifton Police Departments traveled County wide making contact with the registered sex offenders in the county. The purpose was to ensure that all of the sex offenders were in compliance with the registration laws of the State. The Officers also searched for individuals with outstanding warrants.

The Sheriff’s Office also partnered with Nimbus, a private entity that furnished the Sheriff’s Office with computer software called File Cop Live, at no cost to the County.

File Cop Live is a program that scans the files of a computer on scene and immediately detects if there are any pictures or downloads suspected of being child pornography, shortening the time it takes to prove an Internet crime has been committed. Officers’ can put File Cop Live on the computer and in minutes know if the computer needs to be seized for further analysis.

During the two day operation Officers made nineteen (19) arrests that consisted of twelve (12) Felony arrests and seven (7) Misdemeanor arrest. They also seized nine (9) firearms and one computer for further analysis.

Of the nineteen arrests there were seven (7) sex offenders that were arrested for Failure to comply with the registration requirements, and twelve (12) individuals were arrested on outstanding warrants.

All of the offenders appeared before Judge Barbara A. Griffin in the Newport District Court for arraignment and bond. They were all ordered to appear in the Jackson County Circuit Court on Wednesday, August 7, 2013.

Those arrested were:

1.Clayton Barnett, age 56, of Swifton, charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a Class D felony. Was admitted to the Hospital and will be arraigned at a later date.

2.James Thomas, age 66, of Swifton, charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a Class D felony. Bond was set at $75,000.00.

3.Josh Tidwell, age 29, of Newport, charged with a Parole Violation.

4.Eddrick Crump, age 32, of Newport, picked up on Order for revocation of Suspended Imposition of Sentence. Bond was set at $200,000.00.

5.Latesha Bailey, age 30 of Newport, charged with Failure to Appear in Circuit Court, a Class D Felony. Bond was set at $5,000.00 cash.

6.Michael Leonard, age 38, of Newport, charged with Failure to Comply with Registration Requirements, a Class C Felony. Bond was set at $75,000.00.

7.Edwin Nagel, age 48, of Tuckerman, charged with Failure to Comply with Registration Requirements and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, both being Class C Felonies. Bond was set at $40,000.00.

8.William Cody Knight, age 24, of Newport, charged with being an Absconder from Parole.

9.James L. Williford, age 47, of Newport, charged with Failure to Comply with Registration Requirements, a Class D Felony. Bond was set at $100,000.00.

10.Robert Moore, age 52, of Bradford, charged with Felon in possession of a Firearm, a Class B Felony. Bond was set at $40,000.00.

11.Joey Smith, age 38, of Amagon, charged with Failure to Comply with Registration Requirements, a Class C Felony. Bond was set at $75,000.00.

12.Eddie Permenter, age 50, of Newport, charged with Failure to Comply with Registration Requirements, a Class C Felony. Bond was set at $100,000.00.

13.Gilbert Doyle, age 57, of Newport, charged with a Petition for Revocation of Probation. Bond was set at $25,000.00.

Six other individuals were arrested on Misdemeanor violations.

Tuckerman man arrest on drug charges

A Tuckerman man faces drug charges following a traffic stop last week.

According to Sheriff David Lucas, the traffic stop was conducted on Hwy 18 at the Exxon Travel Center by Arkansas State Police Trooper Robert J. Stewart on Friday, July 19, at 5:01 p.m.

During the stop, it was determined that Garret Blain Ussery, 19, had a warrant. While searching the subject prior to placing him in custody, Trooper Stewart found three baggies of marijuana in a pocket. Another bag of marijuana, three clear empty plastic baggies, a glass pipe and a bag of crystal methamphetamine were located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle where Ussery was sitting.

Ussery appeared before Judge Barbara A. Griffin for bond hearing on charges of Possession of Controlled Substance - Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with Intent to Use, and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver on Monday, July 22 where his bond was set at $5,000.

Garret Blain Ussery will appear in Jackson County Circuit Court on Aug. 7 at 9 a.m.